NAVAL  STORIES 


William  Leggett 


Published  on  demand  by 

UNIVERSITY  MICROFILMS 

University  Microfilms  Limited,  High  Wycomb,  England 
A  Xerox  Company,  Ann  Arbor,  Michigan,  US.A. 


NAVAL   STORIES- 


13 Y  WILLIAM  LEGGETT, 
i  i 


I  litre  loTttl  Ibce,  Oo*an  !  »nii  my  joy 
Of  youthful  »poiti  wai  on  thy  brosl  to  be 
Born<t  )'ic  thy  t'illowj,  cawnrJi. 

Byrttk 


SECOND  EDITION, 


NEW-YORK: 

G.  ^  C.  CARVILL&,  CO 

No.  JOS  Broadwav.       /\ 

'^f\ 

1835.  \ 


LOAN  STAO? 


J 


Entered,  ao.cordlng  to  &ct  of  Congress,  in  the  ycnr  1S34,  by 
WILLIAM  LEGGETT,  in  the  Clerk's  otlico  of  tlic  District  Court 
of  the  United  Statei  for  the  Southern  District  of  New- York. 


JAMER   VAN   NORDIN,    HUNTER. 


CONTENTS. 


PAOX. 

Tho  Encounter, 9 

A  Night  at  Gibraltar, t ,  33 

Merry  Terry, Cl 

The  Mess.Chest, « 87 

Tho  Main  Truck,  or  a  Leap  for  Life, 109 

Firo  and  Water, 127 

Brought  to  the  Gangway, 151 

A  Watch  in  the  Main  Top, 181 


072 


»"••  j 


THE    ENCOUNTER. 


A 


THE  ENCOUNTER. 


One  universal  shriek  there  rushed, 
Louder  than  tho  loud  ocean,  liko  a  crash 

Of  echoing  thunder;  and  then  all  was  hushed— 
Save  the  wild  wind,  and  tie  remorseless  dash 

Of  billows. .  £yron.. 

THE  Active,  Sloop  of  War,  had  been  lying  all 
day  becalmed,  in  mid  ocean,  and  was  rolling  ani 
pitching  in  a  heavy  ground  swell,  which  was  tho 
only  trace  led  of  the  gale  she  had  lately  encoun 
tered.  The  sky  was  of  as  tender  and  serene  a  bluo 
as  if  it  had  never  been  deformed  with  clouds ;  and 
the  atmosphere  was  bland  and  pleasant,  although 
the  latitude  and  the  season  might  both  have  led  one 
to  expect  different  weather.  Since  the  morning 
watch,  when  the  wind,  after  blowing  straight  an  end 
for  several  days  together,  had  died  suddenly  away, 
there  had  not  been  enough  air  stirring  to  lift  tho 
dog-vane  from  its  staff,  down  which  it  hung  in  mo 
tionless  repose,  except  when  raised  by  the  heave  of 
the  vessel,  as  she  laboured  in  the  trough  of  the  sea. 
Her  courses  had  been  hauled  up,  and  she  lay  under 


12  THE  ENCOUNTER. 

her  threo  topsails,  braced  on  opposite  tacks,  ready 
to  take  advantage  of  the  first  breath  of  wind,  from 
whatever  quarter  it  might  come. 

The  crew  were  disposed  in  various  groups  about 
the  deck,  some  idling  away  in  listless  ease  the  inter 
val  of  calm ;  some,  with  their  clothes-bags  besid.i 
them,  turning  it  to  account  in  overhauling  their  dun 
nage;  while  others  moved  fidgety  about,  on  the 
forecastle  and  in  the  waist,  eyeing,  ever  and  anon,  the 
horizon  round,  as  if  already  weary  of  their  short 
holiday  on  the  ocean,  and  impatiently  watching  for 
some  sign  of  a  breeze.  To  a  true  sailor  there  arc 
few  circumstances  more  annoying  than  a  perfect 
calm.  The  same  principle  of  our  nature  which 
makes  the  traveller  on  land,  though  journeying  with 
out  any  definite  object,  desire  the  postilion  to  whip 
up  his  horses  and  hasten  to  the  end  of  his  stage,  is 
manifested  in  a  striking  degree  ai*  •  -ig  seamen.  The 
end  of  one  voyage  is  but  the  beginning  of  another, 

*        O  O  ' 

and  their  life  is  a  constant  succession  of  hard 
ships  and  perils;  yet  they  cannot  abide  that  the 
elements  should  grant  them  a  moment's  respite.  As 
the  wind  dies  away  their  spirits  /lag;  they  move 
heavily  and  sluggishly  about  while  the  calm  con 
tinues;  but  rouse  at  the  first  whisper  of  the  breeze, 
and  arc  never  gayer  or  more' animated  than  when 
their  canvass  swells  out  to  its  utmost  tension  in  the 
gale. 

On  the  afternoon  in  question,  this  feeling  of  rest- 


THE    ENCOUNTER.  13 

Icssncss  at  the  continuance  of  the  calm  was  not  con* 
fined  to  the  crew  of  the  Active.  Her  commander 
had  been  nearly  all  day  on  deck,  walking  to  and  fro, 
on  the  starboard  side,  with  quick  impatient  strides, 
or  now  stepping  into  one  gangway,  and  now  into  tlio 
other,  and  casting  anxious  and  searching  looks  into 
all  quarters  of  the  heavens,  as  if  it  were  of  the  ut 
most  consequence  that  a  breeze  should  spring  up  and 
enable  him  to  pursue  his  way.  Indeed  it  was  whis 
pered  among  the  officers,  that  there  were  reasons  of 
state  which  made  it  important  they  should  reach 
their  point  of  destination  as  speedily  as  possible ; 
though  where  that  point-was,  or  what  those  reasons 
were,  not  a  soul  on  board  knew,  except  the  captain— 
and  he  was  nut  a  man  likely  to  enlighten  their 
ignorance  on  the  subject.  Few  words,  in  truth,  did 
any  one  ever  hear  from  Black  Jack,  as  the  reefers 
nicknamed  him ;  and  when  he  did  speak,  what  lie 
said  was  not  generally  of  a  kind  to  make  them  desire 
he  should  often  break  his  taciturnity. 

He  was  a  straight,  tall,  stern-looking  man,  just 
passed  the  prime  of  life,  as  might  be  inferred  from 
the  wrinkles  on  his  thoughtful  brow,  and  the  slightly 
grizzled  hue  of  the  locks  about  his  temples  ;  though 
his  hair,  elsewhere,  was  as  black  as  the  raven.  IJis 
face  bore  the  marks  both  of  storm  and  battle :  it  was 
furrowed  and  deeply  embrowned  by  long  exposure 
to  every  vicissitude  of  weather ;  arid  a  deep  scar 
across  the  left  brow  told  a  tale  of  dangers  braved 


14  THE  ENCOUNTER. 

and  overcome.  His  eyes  were  large,  black  and 
piercing;  and  the  habitual  compression  and  curve  of 
his  lip  indicated  both  firmness  and  haughtiness  of 
character — indications  which  those  who  sailed  with 
him  had  no  reason  to  complain  of  as  deceptive. 

13ul  notwithstanding  his  impatience,  and  the  ur- 
gcncy  of  his  mission,  whatever  it  was,  the  Active 
continued  to  roil  heavily   about  at  the  sport  of  the 
big  round  billows,  which  swelled  up  and  spread  and 
tumbled  over  so  lazily,  that  their  glassy  surfaces 
were  not  broken  by  a  ripple.     The  sun  went  down 
clear,  but  red  and  fiery ;  and  the  sky,  though  its 
blue  faded  to  a  duskier  tint,  still  remained  un flecked 
by  a  single  cloud.     As  the  broad  round  disk  disap 
peared  beneath  the  wave,  all  hands  were  called  to 
stand   by  thoir  hanuno'cks ;    and  when  the  stir  and 
bustle  incident  to  that  piece  of  duty  had  subs'dcd, 
an  unwonted  degree  of  stillness  settled  on  the  vessel. 
Tin's  was  owing  in  part,  no  doubt,  to  the  presence  of 
the  commander,  before  whom  the  crew  were  not  apt 
to  indulge  in  any  great  exuberance  of  merriment ; 
but  the  sluggish  and  unusual  state  of  the  weather 
had  probably  the  largest  share  in  the  effect.     The 
captain  continued  on  deck,  pacing  up  and  down  the 
starboard  side ;   the  lieutenant  of  the  watch  leaned 
over  the  fafirel,  his  trumpet  idly  dangling  by  its 
bcckct  from  his.  arm;    and   tho  two  quarter-deck 
midshipmen  walked  in  the  gangway,  beguiling  their 


THE   ENCOUNTER.  15 

watch  with  prattle  about  homo,  or  gay  anticipations 
of  the  future.  * 

"We  .shall  have  a  dull  and  lazy  right  of  it, 
Vangs,"  said  the  master's  mate  of  the  forecastle,  as 
he  returned  forward  from  adding  on  the  log.  si  ate 
another  "ditto"  to  the  long  column  of  them  which 
recorded  the  history  of  the  day.  The  person  ho 
addressed  stood  on  the  heel  of  the  bowsprit,  with  his 
arms  folded  on  his  breast,  and  his  gaze  fixed  intently 
on  the  western  horizon,  from  which  the  daylight  had 
now  so  completely  faded,  that  it  required  a  practised 
and  keen  eye  to  discern  where  the  sky  and  water 
met.  He  was  a  tall,  square-framed,  aged  looking 
seaman,  whose  thick  gray  hair  shaded  a  strongly 
marked  and  weather-beaten  face,  and  whose  shaggy 
overcoat,  buttoned  to  the  throat,  covered  a  form 
that  for  forty  years  had  breasted  the  storms  and 
perils  of  every  sea.  lie  did  not  turn  his  head,  nor 
withdraw  his  eyes  from  the  spot  they  rested  on,  as 
he  said,  in  a  low  tone,  "  We  shall  have  work  enough 
before  morning,  Mr.  Garnet." 

"  Why,  where  do  you  read  that,  Vangs?"  inquired 
the  midshipman—  •"  thcro  is  nothing  of  the  sort  in 
my  reckoning." 

"I  read  it  in  a  book  I  have  studied  through  many 
a  long  cruise,  Mr.  Garnet,  and  though  my  eyes  aro 
getting  old,  I  think  I  can  understand  its  meaning  yet. 
Hark  ye,  young  man,  the  hammocks  aro  piped  down, 

A3 


1(5  THE  ENCOUNTER. 

and  the  watch  is  set;  but  there  will  be  no  watch  in 

this  night — mark  my  words." 

"  Why,  Vangs,  you  arc  turning  prophet,"  replied 
the  master's-mate,  who  was  a*  rattling  young  fellow, 
full  of  blood  and  blue  veins.  "I  shouldn't  wonder 
to  sec  you  strike  tarpauling  when  the  cruise  is  up,  rig 
out  in  a  Methodist's  broad  brim  and  straight  togs, 
and  ship  the  next  trip  for  parson." 

"  My  cruisings  arc  pretty  much  over,  Mr.  Gar- 
net,  and  my  next  trip,  I  am  thinking,  is  one  I  shall 
have  to  go  alone — though  there's  a  sign  in  the 
heavens  this  night  makes  me  fear  I  shall  have  but 
too  much  company." 

"  Why,  what  signs  do  you  talk  of,  mui  ?"  asked 
the  young  officer,  somewhat  startled  by  the  quiet 
and  impressive  tone  and  mariner  of  the  old  quarter 
master.  "  I  see  nothing  that  looks  like  a  change  of 
weather,  and  yet  I  see  all  there  is  to  be  seen." 

"I  talked  in  the  same  way,  once,  I  remember," 
said  Vangs,  "when  I  was  about  your  age,  as  we  lay 
becalmed  one  night  in  the  old  Charlotte  East  India- 
man,  heaving  and  pitching  in  the  roll  of  a  ground 
swell,  much  as  we  do  now.  The  next  morning 
found  me  clinging  to  a  broken  topmast,  the  only 
thing  left  of  a  fine  ship  of  seven  hundred  tons,  which, 
with  every  soul  on  board  of  her,  except  me,  had 
gono  to  the  bottom.  That  was  before  you  were 
born,  Mr.  Garnet." 


THE   ENCOUNTER.  17 

"  Such  things  have  often  been,  no  doubt,0  said 
Garnet,  "  and  such  tilings  will  bo  again — nay,  may 
happen  as  you  say,  before  morning.-  But  because 
you  were  once  wrecked  in  a  gale  of  wind  that 
sprung  up  out  of  a  calm,  it  is  no  reason  that  every  calm 
is  to  be  followed  by  such  a  gale.  Show  me  a  sign 
of  wind,  and  I  may  believe  it ;  but  for  my  part,  I  see 
no  likelihood  of  enough  even  to  blow  away  the 
smoke  of  that  cursed  galley,  which  circles  and 
dances  about  here  on  the  forecastle,  as  if  it  was 
master's  mate  of  the  watch,  and  was  ordered  to  keep 
a  bright  look-out." 

"Turn  your  eye  in  that  direction,  Mr,  Garnet. 
Do  you  not  see  a  faint  belt  of  light,  no  broader  than 
my  finger,  that  streaks  the  sky  where  the  sun  went 
down  ?  It  is  not  daylight,  for  I  watched  that  all 
fade  away,  and  the  last  glimmer  of  it  was  gono 
before  that  dim  brassy  streak  began  to  show  itself. 
And  carry  your  eye  in  a  straight  line  above  it — do 
you  not  mark  how  thick  and  lead-like  the  air  looks? 
There  is  that  there,"  said  the  old  man,  (laying  his 
hand  on  the  bowsprit,  as  he  prepared  to  sit  down 
between  the  night-heads)  "  will  try  what  stuff  these 
sticks  are  made  of  before  the  morning  breaks." 

Young  Garnet  put  his  hand  over  his  brow,  and 
half  shutting  his  eyes,  peered  intently  in  the  direc 
tion  the  old  seaman  indicated  ;  but  no  sign  pregnant 
with  such  evil  as  ho  foreboded,  or  no  appearance 
even  of  the  wished  for  breeze,  met  his  vision.  Irn- 


18  TUB   ENCOUNTER. 

puling  the  predictions  of  Vangs  to  those  megrims 
which  old  sailors  are  apt  to  have  in  a  long  calm,  or 
perhaps  to  a  desire  to  play  upon  his  credulity,  he 
folded  his  pea-coat  more  closely  about  him,  and 
taking  his  seat  on  the  nettings  in  such  a  position  that 
he  could  lean  hack  against  the  fore-rigging,  pre 
pared  to  settle  himself  down  in  that  delicious  state  of 
repose  between  sleeping  and  waking,  in  which  he 
thought  he  might  with  impunity  doze  away  such  a 
quiet  watch  as  his  promised  to  be.  lie  had  scarcely 
closed  his  eyes,  however,  when  a  sound  rung  in  his 
cars  that  made  him  spring  to  the  deck,  and  at  once 
dispelled  all  disposition  to  slumber.  It  was  the  clear 
trumpet-like  voice  of  the  captain  himself]  hailing  the 
forecastle. 

"Sir!"  bawled  the  startled  master's  mate. 

"Have  your  halliards  clear  for  running,  sir! — 
your  cluelines  led  along,  and  the  men  all  at  their 
stations." 

"Ay,  ay,,  sir!"  sung  Garnet  in  reply,  and  then 
muttered  to  himself,  "  here's  the  devil  to  pay  and  no 
pitch  hot.  What  is  the  meaning  of  all  this,  I  won 
der?  Has  the  skipper  seen  old  Vangs's  streak  of 
brass,  too  ?  or  does  he  hope  to  coax  the  wind  out,  by 
raising  such  a  breeze  on  deck  ?"  And  he  stepped 
upon  a  shot  box,  and  cast  another  long,  searching 
glance  into  the  western  horizon  ;  but  there  was  no 
sign  there  which  to  his  inexperienced  eye  boded  any 
change  of  weather. 


THE   ENCOUNTEIl.  19 

"Fo'castlc,  there!"  again  sounded  from  the 
quarter-deck,  but  it  was  now  the  voice  of  the  lieute 
nant  of  the  watch,  hailing  through  his  trumpet, 

"Sir  !"  answered  the  mate. 

"  Send  the  fo'castle-mcn  aloft  to  furl  the  foresail. 
Quarter-gunner  and  after-guard,  do  you  hear !  lay 
aloft— lay  out — furl  away !" 

These  and  other  similar  orders  were  quickly 
obeyed,  and  stillness  again  succeeded.  But  the  at 
tention  of  all  on  deck  was  now  aroused  ;  and  every 
one  watched  in  silence  for  some  less  questionable 
forerunner  of  wind  than  was  yet  visible  to  their  eyc». 
They  all  noticed,  however,  that  the  sky  had  grown 
thicker  and  of  a  dingier  hue,  and  that  not  a  single 
star  peeped  through  the  gloom.  But  there  was  not 
a  breath  of  air  yet  stirring.  The  topsails  continued 
to  flap  heavily  against  the  masts,  as  they  were 
swayed  to  and  fro  by  the  motion  of  the  vessel ;  tho 
lower  yards  creaked  in  their  slings ;  and  the  ship 
headed  now  one  way  and  now  another,  as  she  yawed 
and  swung  round,  completely  at  the  mercy  of  the 
swell.  The  seamen  gathered  in  groups  at  their 
several  stations,  and  waited  in  silence  the  result 
which  all  now  began  to  apprehend. 

But  while  these  feelings  of  indefinite  fear  were 
entertained  by  those  on  deck,  the  watch  below  were 
disturbed  by  no  such  anxiety.  The  officers  in  the 
gun-room  were  variously  occupied,  according  to 
their  different  tastes  and  inclinations ;  some  amusing 


20  t  THE   ENCOUNTER. 

themselves  by  reading,  some  writing,  and  others 
stretched  upon  the  chairs  or  in  their  berths,  dream 
ing  away  the  interval  of  rest.  The  midshipmen  in 
the  steerage  had  gathered  round  their  mess-table, 
and  were  engaged  in  lively  chat  and  repartee, 
arid  in  cracking  nautical  jokes  and  witticisms 
upon  each  oilier. '  Their  discourse  was  plenti- 
fully  interlarded  with  sea-phrases ;  for  thcsc-juvcnilc 
sons  of  Neptune,  however  slender  their  seamanship 
in  other  respects,  have  commonly  great  volubility  in 
rattling  off  the  technicals  of  their  profession,  and  a 
surprising  facility  in  applying  them  to  the  ordinary 
topics  of  conversation.  With  the  omission  of  a 
single  letter,  the  distich  describing  Iludibras  might 
be  applied  to  them,  or,  if  a  poor  pun  be  allowable,  it 
may  be  said  to  fit  them  to  a  t,  for 


they  cannot opo 


Their  mouths,  but  nut  there  fulls  a  ropo. 

One  of  the  merriest  and  noisiest  of  the  group  in 
the  Active's  steerage  was  a  little,  rosy-cheeked, 
bright-eyed  reefer,  whose  flaxen  hair  curled  in  natu 
ral  ringlets  around  his  temples,  and  was  surmounted 
by  a  small  low-crowned  tarpauling  hat,  cocked 
knowingly  on  one  side,  in  amusing  imitation  of  the 
style  of  the  full-grown  jack  tar. 

"  Hullo,  Jigger,  how  does  she  head  now  ?"  cried 
the  little  wag  to  one  of  the  mcssboys,  aj  his  bandy 
legs  made  their  appearance  do\vn  the  companion 
ladder. 


THE   ENCOUNTER.  21 

"She  head  cbery  which  way,  Misser  Burton," 
answered  the  black,  his  shining  face  dilated  with  a. 
prodigious  grin,  showing  he  relished  the  humour  of 
the  question.  "It  is  a  dead  calm  on  deck  you«know, 
Misser  Burton,  and  de  main  yard  is  brace  frat 
aback." 

"0, 1  sec,"  rejoined  the  urchin,  "they  have  hovo 
her  to,  Jigger,  to  give  her  half  a  lemon  to  keep  her 
from  fainting.  She  has  outsailed  the  wind,  and  is 
lying  by  to  wait  for  it." 

"  Lying  by,  indeed  /"  said  another  ;  "  she  is  going 
like  atop." 

"  And  if  she  keeps  on,"  added  a  third,  "she  will 
soon  go  as  fast  as  the  Dutchman's  schooner,  when 
she  stood  into  port  under  a  heavy. press  of  bolt-ropes, 
the  sails  having  blown  clean  out  of  them  at  sea." 

"Oh,  I  heard  of  that  schooner,"  resumed  little 
Burton,  the  first  speaker.  "It  was  she  that  sailed 
so  fast,  that  when  they  broke  up  her  hatches,  they 
found  she  had  sailed  her  bottom  off." 

"Her  skipper,"  interrupted  another,  "was  both 
master  and  chief  mate,  and  they  made  the  duty  easy 
by  dividing  it  between  them,  watch  and  watch." 

"Yet  the  Dutchman  grew  so  thin  upon  it,"  added 
little  Burton,  "  that  when  he  got  home  his  mother 
and  sister  could'nt  both  look  at  him  at  once." 

"And  his  dog,"  said  the  other,  "got  so  weak,  it 
had  to  lean  against  the  mast  to  bark." 

l>:  Come,  come,   take  a  turn  there,  and   belay," 


22  THE   ENCOUNTER. 

cried  one  of  the  older  midshipmen,  who  was  stretched 
at  full  length  upon  a  locker.  "  Come,  you  have 
chased  that  joke  fur  enough.  ITcavc  about,  and  see 
if  you  can't  give  us  something  better  on  t'other 
lack." 

"Well,  Tom  Derrick,  if  you  don't  like  our  rigs, 
tip  us  a  twist,  yourself.  Come,  spin  us  a  yarn,  my 
boy,  if  you  have  your  jaw-tacks  aboard." 

"No,  no,  Charley  Burton,  I  can't  pay  out  any 
slack  to-night.  I  am  as  sleepy  as  a  lookout  in  a 
calm.  My  eyes  feel  like  the  marine's  when  his  cue 
was  served  so  taught,  lie  could'nt  make  his  eyelids 
meet.  Hullo,  Jigger,  rouse  out  my  hammock  from 
that  heap  and  hang  it  up — you  know  which  it  is, 
don't  you?" 

"  Ki !  I  wish  I  had  as  much  tobacco  as  I  know 
which  Misscr  Derrick's  hammock  is!"  eagerly  re 
plied  the  negro. 

This  characteristic  speech  produced  a  hearty  burst 
of  laughter;  and  in  chat  and  merriment  of  this  sort 
the  evening  slipped  away,  until  the  hour  for  extin 
guishing  the  lights  arrived,  and  the  quarter-master 
came  down- to  douse  the  glim. 

"Well,  \7angs,"  cried  the  ever  ready  Burton,  "it 

is  blowing  an  Irishman's  hurricane  on  deck,  is'nt  it 

straight  up  and  down,  like  a  pig's  eye?" 

"  It  is  all  quiet  yet,"  replied  Yangs,  "  but  the  sky 
has  a  queer  look,  and  there  will  bo  a  hurricane  of  a 


THE    ENCOUNTER.  23 

different  sort  before  you  are  many  hours  older,  Mr. 
Charles." 

"  Is  there  really  any  prospect  of  wind?"  asked  the 
midshipman  we  have  called  Derrick. 

"  There  is  something  brewing  in  the  clouds  we 
none  of  us  understand,"  answered  the  old  man,  in 
his  low  quiet  tone.  We  shall  have  more  wind  than 
\vo  want  before  long,  or  I  am  out  in  my  reckoning." 

"Let  it  come  but-cnd  foremost,  if  it  chooses,  and 
the  sooner  the  better,"  said  young  Burton,  laughing; 
"  any  weather  rather  than  this ;  for  this  is  neither 
fish,  flesh,  nor  red  herring.  Let  it  blow,  Vangs,  and 
I  would'nt  mind  if  it  were  such  a  breeze  as  you  had 
in  the  old  Charlotte,  you  know,  when  it  blew  the 
Sheet-anchor  into  tho  foretop,  and  took  three  men 
to  hold  the  captain's  hair  on  his  head." 

The  old  quarter-master  turned  a  grave  and 
thoughtful  look  on  the  round  face  of  the  lively  boy, 
and  seemed  meditating  an  answer  that  might  repress 
what  probably  struck  him  as  untimely  mirth ;  but 
even  while  he  was  in  the  act  to  speak,  the  tempest 
he  had  predicted  burst  in  sudden  fury  upon  the 
vessel.  The  first  indication  those  below  had  of  its 
approach  was  the  wild  rushing  sound  of  the  gust, 
which  broke  upon  their  ears  like  the  roar  of  a  vol. 
cano.  The  heaving  and  rolling  of  the  ship  ceased 
all  at  once,  as  if  the  waves  had  been  subdued  and 
chained  down  by  the  force  of  a  mighty  pressure. 
The  vessel  stood  motionless  an  instant,  as  if  instinct 


24  THE* ENCOUNTER. 

with  life,  and  cowering  in  conscious  fear  of  the  ap 
proaching  strife;  the  tempest  then  burst  upon  her 
but-cnd  foremost,  as  Burton  expressed  it,  and  the 
stately  mass  reeled  and  fell  over  before  it,  like  a 
tower  struck  down  by  a  thunderbolt.  The  surge  was 
so  violent  that  the  ship  was  thrown  almost  on  her 
beam-ends,  and  every  thing  on  board,  not  secured 
in  the  strongest  manner,  was  pitched  with  great 
force  to  leeward.  Midshipmen,  mess-table,  ham- 
mocks,  and  the  contents  of  the  mess  lockers,  fell 
rustling,  rattling,  and  mixed  in  strange  disorder,  to 
the  Ice-scuppers;  and  when  the  ship  slowly  righted, 
straining  and  trembling  in  every  plank,  it  was  a 
moment  or  two  before  those  who  had  been  so  un 
expectedly  heaped  together  in  the  bends,  could  ex 
tricate  themselves  from  the  confusion,  and  make 
their  way  to  the  upper  deck. 

There,  a  scene  of  fearful  grandeur  was  presented. 
The  sky  was  of  a  murky,  leaden  hue,  and  appeared 
to  bend  over  the  ship  in  a  nearer  and  narrower  arch, 
binding  the  ocean  in  so  small  a  round,  that  the  eye 
could  trace,  through  the  whole  circle,  the  line  where 
the  sickly  looking  heaven  rested  on  the  sea.  The 
air  was  thick  and  heavy;  and  the  water,  covered 
with  driving  snow-like  foam,  seemed  tD  be  packed 
and  flattened  down  by  the  fury  of  the  blast,  which 
scattered  its  billows  into  spray  as  cutting  as  the  sleet 
of  a  December  storm.  The  wind  howled  i^Aid 
screamed  through  the  rigging  with  an  appalling 


THE    ENCOUNTER.  25 

sound,  that  might  be  likened  to  the  shrieks  and  wail. 
ings  of  angry  fiends ;  and  the  ship  fled  before  the 
tempest,  like  an  affrighted  thing,  with  a  velocity 
that  piled  the  watei  in  a  huge  bank  around  her 
bows,  and  sent  it  off,  whirling  and  sparkling,  in  lines 
of  dazzling  whiteness,  soon  lost  in  the  general  huo 
of  the  ocean,  which  resembled  a  wild  waste  of  drift. 
ing  snow. 

There  was  one^on  deck,  however,  who  had  fore, 
seen  this  awful  change,  arid  made  preparations  to 
meet  it ;  and  when  the  tempest  burst,  in  full,  fell 
swoop,  upon  his  ship,  it  found  nothing  but  the  baro 
hull  and  spars  to  oppose  its  tremendous  power. 
Every  sail  had  been  closely  and  securely  furled,  ex. 
ceptthc  fores  to  rm  staysail,  which  was  set  for  a  reason 
that  seamen  will  understand  ;  but  being  hauled  well 
aft  by  both  sheets,  r:  was  stretched  stiilly  amidships, 
and  presented  nothing  but  the  bolt  rope  for  the  wind  to 
act  upon.  The  masts  and  yards,  with  their  snug 
and  well-bound  rolls  of  canvass,  alone  encountered 
the  hurricane.  But  even  these  were  tried  to  the 
uttermost.  The  topmasts  bent  and  creaked  before 
the  blast,  and  the  royal  poles  of  the  topgallantmasts, 
which  extended  above  the  crosstrecs,  whipped  and 
thrashed  about  like  pliant  rods.  The  running  rig- 
ging  rattled  against- the  spars,  and  the  shrouds  and 
backstays  strained  and  cracked,  as  if  striving  to 
draw  the  strong  bolts  which  secured  them  to  thd 
vessel. 

B, 


20  THE    ENCOUNTKR. 

For  more  than  an  hour  did  the  Active  flee  along 
in  this  way,  like  a  wild  horse  foaming  and  stretch- 
ing  at  liis  utmost  speed,  driven  onward  in  the  van  of 
the  tempest,  and  exposed  to  its  fiercest  wrath.  At 
length,  the  first  fury  of  the  ga'e  passed  away,  and 
the  wind,  though  still  raging  tempestuously,  swept 
over  her  with  less  appalling  force.  The  ocean,  now, 
as  if  to  revenge  itself  for  its  constrained  inactivity, 
roused  from  its  brief  repose,  and  swelled  into  billows 
that  rolled  and  chased  each  other  with  the  wild  glee 
of  ransomed  demons.  Wave  upon  wave,  in  multi 
tudinous  confusion,  came  roaring  in  from  astern ; 
and  their  white  crests,  leaping)  ai!d  sparkling,  and 
hissing,  formed  a  striking  feature  in  the  scene.  The 
wind,  fortunately,  issued  from  the  right  point,  and 
drove  the  Active  towards  her  place  of  destination. 
The  dun  pall  of  clouds,  which  from  the  commence 
ment  of  the  gale,  had  totally  overspread  the  heavens, 
except  in  the  quarter  whence  the  blast  proceeded, 
now  began  to  give  way,  and  a  reddish  light  shone 
out  here  and  there,  iu  long  horizontal  streaks,  liko 
the  glow  of  expiring  coals  between  the  bars  o"a  fur 
nace.  •Though  the  first  dreadful  violence  of  the 
storm  was  somewhat  abated,  it  still  raved  with  too 
much  fierceness  and  power  to  admit  of  any  relaxa 
tion  of  vigilance.  The  commander  himself  still  re 
tained  the  trumpet,  and  every  oiilccr  stood  in  silence 
at  his  station,  clingLng  to  whatever  might  assist  him 
to  maintain  his  diilicult  footing. 


Till*   ENCOUNTER.  .27 

"Light,  oh !"  cried  the  lookout  on  one  of  the  cat 
heads. 

"Where  away?"  demanded  the  captain. 

"Dead  ahead." 

"  What  does  it  look  like,  and  how  far  off?"  shouted 
the  captain,  in  a  loud  and  earnest  voice. 

"  Can  see  nothing  now,  sir  ;  the  glim  is  doused." 
,  "  Here,  Mr.  Burton,"  cried  the  commander,  "take 
this  night  glass ;  jump  aloft  on  the  fbreyard,  sir,  and 
see  if  you  can  make  out  any  object  ahead.  Hurry 
up,  hurry  up,  and  let  me  hear  from  you  immediately, 
sir  !  Lay  ail  to  the  braces  !  Forecastle,  there!  have 
hands  by  your  staysail  sheets  on  both  sides!  fore- 
yard,  there!" 

Bui  before  the  captain  had  finished  his  hail,  the 
voice  of  little  Burton  was  heard,  singing  out,  "sail 
oh!" 

"What  docs  she  look  like,  and  where  away?" 

"A  large  vessel  lying  to  under  bare  poles — star 
board  your  helm,  sir,  quick — hard  a  starboard,  or 
you  will  fall  aboard  of  her!" 

This  startling  intelligence  was  hardly  communi 
cated  before  the  vessel  descried  from  aloft  loomed 
suddenly  into  siijlit  from  deck  through  the  thick 

r  ,       ™  O 

weather  to  leeward.  ITcr  dusk  and  shadowy  form 
seemed  to  rise  up  from  the  ocean,  so  suddenly  did 
it  open  to  view,  as  the  driving  mist  was  scattered 
for  a  moment.  She  lay  right  athwart  the  Active's 
bows,  and  almost  under  her  fore-foot — as  it  seemed 


28  THE    ENCOUNTER. 

while  she  pitched  into  the  trough  of  an  enormous 
sea — and  the  Active  rode  on  the  ridge  of  the  sue- 
cccding  wave,  which  curled  ahove  the  chasm,  as  if 
to  overwhelm  the  vessel  beneath. 

"Starboard  your  helm,  quarter-master !  hard  a- 
starboard!"  cried  the  commander  of  the  Active,  in 
a  tone  of  startling  energy. 

"Starboard!"  repeated  the  deep  solemn  voice  of 
old  Vangs,  who  stood  on  the  quarter-nettings,  his 
tall  f  gure  propped  against  the  rnizcn  rigging,  and 
his  arm  wreathed  round  the  shroud.' 

"Jump  to  the  braces,  men !"  continued  the  captain 
strenuously — "haul  in  your  starboard  braces,  haul! 
— case  of]' your  larboard  !  does  she  come  to,  quarter 
master  ? — Fo'castle  there !  ease  off  your  larboard 
staysail  sheet — let  all  go,  sir!" 

These  orders  were  promptly  obeyed,  but  it  was 
too  late  for  them  to  avail.  The  wheel,  in  the  hands 
'of  four  stout  and  experienced  seamen,  was  forced 
swiftly  round,  and  the  effect  of  the  rudder  was  as. 
sistcd  by  a  pull  of  the  starboard  braces;  but  in  such 
a  gale,  and  under  bare  poles,  the  helm  exerted  but 
little  power  over  the  driving  and  ponderous  mass. 
She  had  headed  off  hardly  a  point  from  her  course, 
when  she  was  taken  up  by  a  prodigious  surge,  and 
borne  onward  with  fearful  velocity.  The  catastro 
phe  was  now  inevitable.  In  an  instant  the  two 
ships  fell  together,  their  massive  timbers  crashing 
with  the  fatal  force  of  the  concussion.  A  wild 


•  THU    ENCOUNTER.  29 

shriek  ascended  from  the  deck  of  the  stranger,  and 
woman's  shrill  voice  mingled  with  the  sound.  All 
was  now  confusion  and  uproar  on  board  both  ves 
sels.  The  Active  had  struck  the  stranger  broad  on 
the  bows,  while  the  bowsprit  of  the  latter,  rushing 
in  between  the  foremast  and  the  starboard  fore- 
rigging  of  the  Active,  had  snapped  her  shrouds  and 
stays,  and  torn  up  the  bolts  and  chainplates,  as  if 
they  had  been  thread  and  wire.  Staggering  back 
from  the  shock,  she  was  carried  to  some  distance  by 
a  refluent  wave,  which  suddenly  subsiding,  she  gave 
such  a  heavy  lurch  to  port  that  the  foremast — now 
wholly  unsupported  on  the  starboard  side — snapped 
short  oil*  like  a  withered  twig,  and  fell  with  a  loud 
plash  into  the  ocean. 

"The  foremast  is  gone  by  the  board!"  shouted 
the  ofiicer  of  tho  forecastle. 

"  .My  Clod !"  exclaimed  the  captainr"  and  Charles 
Burton  has  gone  with  it !  J^o'castlc  there !  Did 
Charles  Burton  come  down  from  the  ibreyard?" 

<k  Burton !  Burton !  Burton  !"  called  twenty  voices, 
and  "Burton!"  was  shouted  loudly  over  the  side; 
but  there  was  no  reply ! 

In  the  mean  while  another  furious  billow  lifted  the 
vessel  on  its  crest,  and  the  two  ships  closed'  again, 
like  gladiators,  faint  and  stunned,  but  still  compelled 
to  do  battle.  The  bows  of  the  stranger  this  time 
drove  heavily  against  the  bends  of  the  Active  just 
abaft  her  main-rigging,  and  her  bowsprit  darted 


30  THE    ENCOUNTER. 

quivering  in  over  the  bulwarks,  as  if  it  were  the 
arrowy  tongue  of  some  huge  sea  monster.  At  tins, 
instant  a  wild  sound  of  agony,  between  a  shriek  andi 
#roan,  was  heard  in  that  direction,  and^hose  who 
.turned  to  ascertain  its  cause  saw,  as  the  vessels , 
again  separated,  a  human  body,  swinging  and  writh 
ing  at  the  stranger's  bowsprit  head.  The  vessel! 
heaved  up  into  the  moonlight,  and  showed  the  face 
of  poor  Vangs,  the  quarter-master,  his  back  ap 
parently  crushed  and  broken,  but  his  arms  clasped 
round  the  spar,  to  which  lie  appeared  to  cling  with 
convulsive  tenacity.  The  bowsprit  had  caught 
him  on  its  end  as  it  ran  in  over  the  Active's  side,  and 
driving  against  the  mi'/zenmast,  deprived  the  poor 
wretch  of  all  power  to  rescue  himself  from  the 
dreadful  situation.  While  a  hundred  eyes  were 
fastened  in  a  gaze  of  horror  on  the  impaled  seaman, 
thus  dangling  over  the  boiling  ocean,  the  strange  ship 
again  reeled  forward,  as  if  to  renew  the  terrible  en- 
counter.  But  her  motion  was  now  slow  and  labour- 
ing.  She  was  evidently  settling  by  the  head ;  she 
paused  in  mid  career,  gave  a  heavy  drunken  lurch 
to  starboard,  till  her  topmasts  whipped  against  the 
rigging  of  her  antagonist,  then  rising  slowly  on  the 
ridge  of  the  next  wave,  she  plunged  head  foremost, 
and  disappeared  for  ever.  One  shriek  of  horror  and 
despair  rose  through  the  storm — one  wild  delirious 
shriek !  The  waters  swept  over  the  drowning 
wretches,  and  hushed  their  gurgling  cry.  Then  all 


THE   ENCOUNTER.  31 

was  still! — nil  but  the  rush  and  whirl  of  waves  as 
they  were  sucked  into  the  vortex,  and  the  voice  of 
the  storm,  which  howled  its  wild  dirge  above  the 
spot. 

When  day  dawned  on  the  ocean,  the  Active  pre- 
scntcd  a  different  appearance  from  that  which  she 
exhibited  but  a  few  short  hours  before.  Her  fore 
mast  gone,  her  bowsprit  sprung,  her  topgallantrrmsts 
struck,  her  bulwarks  shattered,  her  rigging  hanging 
loose,  and  whitened  by  the  wash  of  the  spray — she 
looked  little  like  the  gay  and  gallant  thing  which, 
at  the  same  hour  of  the  previous  day,  had  ploughed 
her  course  through  the  sea,  despite  the  adverse  gale, 
and  moved  proudly  along  under  a  cloud  of  canvass, 
as  if  she  defied  the  fury  of  the  elements.  Now, "how 
changed !  how  sad  the  contrast !  The  appearance 
of  .such  of  the  officers  and  crew  as  were  moving 
about  the  deck  harmonized  with  that  of  the  vessel. 
They  looked  pale  arid  dejected  :  and  the  catas 
trophe  they  had  witnessed  had  left  traces  of  horror 
stamped  on  every  brow.  The  Active  was  still  near 
the  spot  of  the  fatal  event,  having  been  lying  to 
under  a  close  reefed  mainsail,  which  the  lulling  of 
the  wind  had  enabled  her  to  bear.  As  the  dawn 
advanced,  the  upper  deck  became  crowded,  and 
long  and  searching  looks  were  cast  over  the  ocean 
in  every  direction,  in  the  hope  to  discover  some 
vestige  of  those  who  had  met  their  doom  during  the 
night.  Such  of  the  boats  as  had  not  been  staved 

133 


\vcro  lowered,  and  long  and  patient  efforts  were 
made  to  discover  traces  of  the  wreck.  But  the 
search  was  fruitless,  and  was  at  last  reluctantly 
abandoned.  The  boats  were  again  hauled  up  and 
stowed ;  the  Active  filled  away,  and  under  such  sail 
as  she  could  carry  in  her  crippled  state,  crept  for. 
ward  towards  her  goal.  During  the  rest  of  her 
voyage  no  merry  laugh,  no  lively  prattle,  cheered 
the  steerage  mess-table.  The  bright  eyes  of  Charles 
Burton  were  closed — his  silvery  voice  was  hushed 
— his  gay  heart  was  cold — and  his  messmates 
mourned  his  timeless  fate  with  real  sorrow. 

In  a  few  days,  the  Sloop  of  War  reached  her 
port,  and  was  immediately  warped  to  the  dock-yard, 
where  she  was  stripped,  hove  down,  and  thoroughly 
overhauled.  The  officers  and  crew  lent  themselves 
earnestly  to  the  duty,  and  a  short  time  served  to 
accomplish  it.  In  less  than  a  week,  every  thing  set 
up  and  all  a-taunto,  the  ship  hauled  out  again, 
gleaming  with  fresh  paint,  and  looking  as  proud 
and  stately  as  before  the  disaster.  But  where  was 
she  that  had  been  wrecked  in  the  encounter  ?  Where 
and  who  were  tho.sc  thiit  perished  witli  her?  Fond 
hearts  were  doubtless  eagerly  awaiting  them,  and 
anxious  eyes  strained  over  the  ocean  "  to  hail  the 
bark  that  never  could  return."  No  word,  no  whis 
per  ever  told  their  fate.  They  who  saw  them  per- 
ish  knew  not  the  victims,  and  the  deep  gave  not  up 
its  dead. 


A    NIGHT    AT    GIBRALTAR. 


THE: 


of  Get] 


and  its 
scenery 
UU 
for  the  i 
teriglii 
and  bot 
steed  ft 
with  i!x 
; 


A  NIGHT  AT  GIBRALTAR. 


The  raisUboil  up  around  rno,  and  tho  clouds 
Rise  curling  fast  beneath  me,  white  and  sulphury  f 
Liko  foam  from  tho  roused  ocoan  of  deep  boll. 

I  nm  most  nick  nt  heart — nay,  £rai»p  rno  not — 

I  a:n  all  feeb!eno>s — the  mountains  whirl 

Spinning  cround  mo— I  grow  blind — What  art  thou  J 

Byron, 

THE  first  time  I  ever  saw  the  famous  Rock  of 
"Gibraltar  was  on  a  glorious  afternoon  in  the  month 
of  October.  The  sun  diffused  just  heat  enough 
through  the  air  to  give  it  an  agreeable  temperature, 
and  its  soft  and  somewhat  hazy  light,  showed  the 
scenery  of  the  Straits  to  the  best  advantage.  We 
had  had  a  rough,  but  uncommonly  short  passage  ; 
for  the  wind,  though  tempestuous,  had  blown  from 
the  right  quarter;  and  our  gallant  frigate  dashed 
and  bounded  over  tnc  waves  before  it,  "like  a 
steed  that  knows  his  rider."  I  could  not  then  add 
with  the  poet,  from  whom  I  have  borrowed  this 
quotation,  "Welcome  to  their  roar !"  for  I  was  a 
novice  on  the  ocean  in  those  days,  and  had  not  en 
tirely  recovered  from  certain  uneasy  sensations 


36  A   NIGHT   AT   GIBRALTAR.  ..I 

about  the  region  of  the  epigastrium,  which  by  no1 
means  rendered  the  noise  of  rushing  waters  the 
most  agreeable  sound  to  my  cars,  or  the  rolling  of 
the  vessel  the  most  pleasant  motion  for  my  body. 
Never  did  old  sea-dog  of  a  sailor,  in  the  horse  lati 
tudes,  pray  more  sincerely  for  a  wind,  than  I  did  for 
a  calm,  during  that  boisterous  passage ;  and  never, 
I  may  add,  did  the  selfish  prayer  of  a  sinner  prove 
less  availing.  The  gale  kept  "  due  on  the  Propontic 
and  the  Hellespont,"  and  it  )lew  so  hard  that  it 
sometimes  seemed  to  lift  our  old  craft  almost  out  of 
water.  When  we  came  out  of  port,  we  had  had  our 
dashy  fair-weather  spars  aloft,  with  skysail  yards 
athwart,  a  moonsail  to  the  main,  and  hoist  enough 
for  the  broad  blue  to  show  itself  above  that.  But 
before  the  pilot  left  us,  our  topgallant-poles  were 
under  the  boom-cover,  and  storm-stumps  in  their, 
places  ;  and  the  first  watch  was  scarcely  relieved, 
when  the  boatswain's  call — repeated  by  four  mates, 
whose  lungs  seemed  formed  on  purpose  to  outroar 
a.  tempest — rang  through  the  ship,  "  All  hands  to 
house  topgallantmasts,  ahoy !"  From  that  time  till 
we  made  the  land,  the  gale  continued  with  unintcr- 
mittccl  violence,  to  the  great  delight  of  the  old  tars, 
and  the  manifest  annoyance  of  the  green  reefers,  of 
whom  we  had  rather  an  unusual  number  on  board. 
If  my  pen  were  endued  with  the  slightest  portion  of  the 
quality  which  distinguished  Hogarth's  pencil,  I  might 


A    NIGHT    AT    GIBRALTAR.  37 

here  give  a  description  of  a  man-of-war's  steerage 
in  a  storrn,  which  should  force  a  smile  from  the 
most  saturnine  reader.  I  must  own  I  did  not  much 
relish  the  humour  of  the  scene  then — pars  mognafui 
— that  is,  I  was  sea-sick  myself;  but  often  since, 
sometimes  in  my  hammock,  sometimes  during  a  cold 
mid. watch  on  deck,  I  have  burst  into  a  hearty  laugh, 
as  the  memory  of  our  grotesque  distresses,  and  of 
the  odd  figures  we  cut  during  that  passage,  has 
glanced  across  my  mind. 

But  the  longest  day  must  have  an  end,  and  the 
stillest  breeze  cannot  last  for  ever.  The  wind,  which 
for  a  forfnight  had  been  blowing  as  hard  as  a  trum 
peter  for  a  wager,  blew  itself  out  at  last.  About  dawn 
one  morning  it  began  to  lull,  and  by  the  time  the  sun 
was  fairly  out  of  the  water,  it  full  flat  calm.  It  was 
rny  morning  watch,  and  what  with  sea-sickness, 
hard  duty,  and  having  been  cabined,  cribbed,  confined 
for  so  long  a  time  in  my  narrow  and  unaccustomed 
lodgings,  I  felt  worn  out,  and  in  no  mood  to  exult  in 
the  choice  I  had  made  of  a  profession.  I  stood  hold- 
ing  by  one  of  the  belaying  pins  of  the  main  fife-rail, 
for  I  had  not  yet,  as  the  sailors  phrase  it,  got  my 
seaJegs  aboard,  and  I  looked,  I  suppose,  as  melan 
choly  as  a  sick  monkey  on  a  lee  backstay,  when 'a 
cry  from  the  foretopsail-yard  reached  my  ear,  that 
instantly  thrilled  to  my  heart,  and  set  the  blood  run 
ning  in  a  lively  current  through  my  veins.  "  Land, 
oh!"  cried  the  jack-tar  on  the  lookout,  in  a  cable- 


38  A    NIGHT   AT    G1HKALTAK. 

tier  voice,  which  seemed  to  issue  from  the  bottom  of 
his  stomach.  I  have  heard  many  delightful  sounds 
in.  my  time,  but  few  which  seemed  plcasanter  than 
the  rough  voice  of  that  vigilant  sailor.  1  do  verily 
believe,  that  not  seven  bells  (grog  time  of  day)  to  a 
thirsty  tar,  the  dinner  bell  to  a  hungry  alderman,  or 
the  passing  bell  of  some  rich  old  curmudgeon  to  a 
prodigal  heir,  ever  gave  greater-  rapture.  The 
how-d'ye-do  of  a  friend,  the  good-by  of  a  country 
cousin,  the  song  of  tiie  Signorlna,  and  Paganini's 
fiddle,  may  all  have  music  in  them ;  but  the  cry  of 
land  to  a  sea-sick  midshipman  is  sweeter  than  them 
all. 

We  made  what,  in  nautical  language,  is  termed  a 
good  land-fall — so  good,  indeed,  that  it  was  well  for 
us  the  night  and  the  wind  both  ceased  when  they 
did;  for,  had  they  lasted  another  hour,  we  should 
have  found  ourselves  landed,  and  in  a  way  that  even 
I,  much  as  I  wished  to  set  my  foot  once  more  on 
terra  firma,  should  not  have  relished  very  much. 
On  its  becoming  light  enough  to  ascertain  our 
whereabout,  it  was  discovered  that  we  were  within 
the  very  jaws  of  the  Straits,  completely  land-locked 
by  the  "steepy  shore,"  where 

"  Europe  and  Afric  on  each  other  gozo ;" 

and  already  beginning  to  feel  the  influence  of  the 
strong  and  ceaseless  easterly  current  which  rushes 
into  the  Mediterranean  through  that  passage  at  the 
rate  of  four  or  five  knots  an  hour.  A  gentle  land- 


A    NIGHT    AT    GIBRALTAR.  39 

breeze  sprung  up  in  the  course  of  the  morning 
watch,  which,  though  not  exactly  fair,  yet  coming 
from  the  land  of  the  "  dusky  Moor,"  had  enough 
of  southing  in  it  to  enable  us,  with  the  set  of  the 
current,  to  get  along  tolerably  well,  beating  with  a 
long  and  a  short  leg  through  the  Straits. 

But  there  is  no  reason  that  I  should  make  my 
story  of  the  passage  as  tedious  as  the  reality;  so, 
here's  fur  a  fair  breeze  and  square  away  !  And 
now,  let  the  reader  fancy  himself  riding  at  anchor 
in  the  beautiful  but  unsafe  bay  of  Gibraltar,  Directly 
opposite  and  almost  within  the  very  shadow  of  the 
grand  and  gigantic  fortress,  which  nature  and  art 
have  vied  with  each  other  in  rendering,  impregnable. 
No  one  who  has  looked  on  that  vast  and  forted  rock, 
with  its  huge  granite  outline  shown  in  bold  relief 
against  the  clear  sky  of  the  south  of  Europe — its 
towering  and  ruin-crowned  peaks — its  enormous 
crags,  caverns,  and  precipices — and  its  rich  histori 
cal  associations,  shedding  a  powerful  though  vague 
interest  over  every  feature — can  easily  forget  the 
impression  which  that  imposing  and  magnificent 
spectacle  creates.  The  flinty  mass  rising  abruptly 
to  an  elevation  of  fifteen  hundred  feet,  and  surround- 
cd  on  every  side  b  v*  the  waters  of  the  Mediterranean, 
save  a  narrow  slip  of  level  sand  which  stretches 
from  its  northern  end  and  connects  it  with  the  main 
land,  has,  added  to  its  other  claims  to  admiration, 
the  strong  interest  of  utter  insolation. 


40  A    NIGHT   AT   GIBRALTAR. 

For  a  while,  the  spectator  gazes  on  the  "stu 
pendous  whole"  with  an  expression  of  pleased 
wonder  at  its  height,  extent,  and  strength,  and 
without  becoming  conscious  of  the  various  oppo 
site  features  which  make  up  its  grand  effect  of 
sublimity  and  beauty.  He  sees  only  the  giant 
rock  spreading  its  vast  dark  mass  against  the 
sky,  its  broken  and  wavy  ridge,  its  beetling  pro 
jections,  its  "steep  down  gulfs,"  and  dizzy  precipices 
of  a  thousand  fuet  perpendicular  descent.  After  a 
tune,  his  eye  becoming  in  some  degree  familiarized 
with  the  main  and  sterner  features  of  the  scene,  he 
perceives  that  the  granite  mountain  is  variegated  by 
here  and  there  some  picturesque  work  of  art,  or 
spot  of  green  beauty,  smiling  with  surpassing  love 
liness  in  contrast  with  the  savage  roughness  around 
it.  Dotted  about  at  long  intervals  over  the  steep 
sides  of  the  craggy  mass,  arc  seen  the  humble  cot 
tages  of  the  soldiers'  wives,  or,  perched  on  the  very 
edges  of  the  clilKs,  the  guard-houses  of  the  garrison  ; 
before  which,  ever  and  anon,  .may  be  descried  the 
vigilant  sentry,  dwindled  to  a  pigmy,  walking  to  and 
fro  on  his  allotted  and  dangerous  post.  Now  and 
then,  the  eye  detects  a  more  sumptuous  edifice,  half 
hid  in  a  grove  of  acacias,  orange,  and  almond  trees, 
clustering  around  it,  as  if  to  shut  from  the  view  of  its 
inhabitant,  in  his  eyrie-like  abode,  the  scene  ofdeso. 
late  grandeur  above,  beneath  hiin,  and  on  every 
side.  At  the  foot  of  the  rock,  on  a  small  and  nar 
row  slip,  less  precipitous  than  the  rest,  stands  the 


A   NIGHT  AT   GIBRALTAR.  41 

town  of  Gibraltar,  which,  as  seen  from  the  bay, 
with  its. dark-coloured  houses,  built  in  the  Spanish 
style,  and  rising  one  above  another  in  ampithcatri- 
cal  order;  the  ruins  of  the  Moorish  castle  and  dc- 
fences  in  the  rear ;  and  the  high  massive  walls  which 
enclose  it  at  the  water's  edge,  and  v.'hich,  thick,  planted 
with  cannon,  seem  formed  to  "laugh  a  seige  to 
scorn,'*  has  a  highly  picturesque  effect.  The  mili 
tary  works  of  Gibraltar  are  on  a  scale  of  magnifi 
cence  commensurate  with  the  natural  grandeur  of 
the  scene.  Its  wails,  its  batteries,  and  its  moles, 
v/hich,  bristling  with  cannon,  stretch  far  out  into  tho 
bay,  and  against  whose  solid  structures  the  waves 
spend  their  fury  in  vain,  arc  works  of  art  planned 
with  great  genius,  and  executed  with  consummate 
skill.  An  indefinite  sensation  of  awe  mixes  with 
the  stranger's  feelings,  as  gazing  upon  the  defences 
which  every  where  meet  his  eye,  he  remembers,  that 
the  strength  of  Gibraltar  consists  not  in  its  visible 
works  alone,  but  that,  hewn  in  the  centre  of  the  vast 
and  perpendicular  rock,  there  are  long  galleries  and 
ample  chambers,  where  the  engines  of  war  are  kept 
always  ready,  and  whence,  at  any  moment,  the  fires 
of  death  may  be  poured  down  upon  an  assailant. 

Though  the  rock  is  the  chief  feature  of  interest  in 
the  bay  of  Gibraltar,  yet,  when  fatigued  by  long 
gazing  on  its  barren  and  solitary  grandeur,  there 
are  not  wanting. other  objects  on  which  the  eye  of 
the  stranger  may  repose  with  pleasure.  The  green 


•V.;'  A   NIG  JIT   AT   GIBRALTAR. 

shore?  of  Andalusia,  encircling  the  bay  in  their  semi- 
circ'i?  ir  sweep,  besides  the  attraction  which  ver- 
diu.t  itills  and  valleys  always  possess,  have  the  super- 
added  charm  of  being  linked  with  many  classical 
and  r-.mantic  associations.  The  picturesque  towns 
of  Si.  lloque  and  Algesiras,  the  one  crowning  a 
*niOv,-!:i  eminence  at  some  distance  from  the  shore, 
an'.l  t!ic  other  occupying  a  gentle  declivity  that  sinks 
gradually  down  to  the  sparkling  waters  of  the  bay 
— the  mountains  of  Spain,  fringed  with  cork  forests, 
in  the  back  ground — the  dimly  seen  coast  of  Morocco 
across  the  Straits,  with  the  white  walls  of  Ceuta  just 
discernible  on  one  of  its  promontories — the  tower 
ing  form  of  Abila,  which  not  even  the  unromantic 
modern  name  of  Apes-hill  can  devcst  of  all  its  in 
terest  as  one  of  "the  trophies  of  great  Hercules" — 
these  arc  all  attractive  features  in  the  natural  land 
scape,  and,  combined,  render  it  a  scene  of  exceeding 
beauty. 

The  clear  blue  waters  of  the  bay  itself  common 
ly  present  an  appearance  of  great  variety  and  ani 
mation.  Here  may  at  all  times  be  seen,  moored 
closely  together,  a  numerous  fleet  of  vessels,  from 
every  quarter  of  the  globe,  of  every  fashion  of  struc 
ture,  and  manned  by  beings  of  every  creed,  land, 
arid  colour.  The  flags  and  pennons  which  float  from 
their  masts,  the  sounds  which  rise  from  their  decks, 
and  the  appearance  and  employments  of  the  moving 
throngs  upon  them,  all  tend  to  heighten  the  charm. 


A   NIGHT  AT  GIBRALTAR.  43 

of  novelty  and  variety.  In  one  place,  may  bo  seen, 
perhaps,  a  shattered  and  dismantled  hulk,  on  board 
of  which  some  exiled  Spanish  patriot,  with  his  family, 
has  taken  refuge,  dwelling  there  full  in  the  sight  of 
his  native  land,  which  yet  he  can  scarcely  hope  ever 
to  tread  again :  in  another — on  the  high  latticed 
stern  of  a  tall,  dark-looking  craft,  whoso  raking 
masts,  black  bends,  and  trig,  warlike  appearance 
excite  a  doubt  whether  she  be  merchantman  or 
pirate — a  group  of  Turks,  in  their  national  and 
beautiful  costume,  smoking  their  long  chiboques  with 
an  air  of  as  much  gravity  as  if  they  were  engaged  in  a 
matter  on  which  their  lives,  or  the  lives  of  their 
whole  race,  depended.  Beside  them  lies  a  heavy, 
clumsy  dogger,  on  board  of  which  a  company  of 
industrious,  slow-moving  Dutchmen  arc  engaged  in 
trafficking  away  their  cargo  of  cheese,  butter,  Bo- 
logna  sausages,  and  real  Schiedam;  and  not  far 
away  from  these,  a  crew  of  light-hearted  Genoese 
sailors  arc  stretched  at  length  along  the  deck  of  their 
polacca,  chanting,  in  voices  made  musical  by  dis. 
tance,  one  of  the  rich  melodies  with  which  their 
language  abounds.  Boats  are  continually  passing 
hither  and  thither  between  the  vessels  and  the  shore ; 
arid  every  now  and  then,  along  and  slender  felucca, 
with  its  slanting  yards,  and  graceful  lateen  sails, 
glides  across  the  bay,  laden  with  the  products  of  tho 
fruitful  soil  of  Andalusia,  which  are  destined  to  sup. 


44  A    NIGHT    AT   GIBRALTAR. 

ply  tho  tables  of  the  pent-up  inhabitants  of  the  gar 
rison.  . 

I  have  mentioned  that  it  was  on  a  fine  day  in  Oc 
tober  that  we  arrived  at  Gibraltar,  and  I  have  ac 
cordingly  sketched  the  Rock,  and  the  adjacent 
scenery,  as  they  appeared  to  me  through  the  mellow 
light  of  that  pleasant  afternoon.  To  one  viewing 
the  scene  from  a  different  point  from  that  which  I 
occupied,  our  own  gallant  frigate  would  have  pre 
sented  no  unattractive  object  in  the  picture.  While 
we  were  beating  through  the  Straits,  the  gunner's 
crew  had  been  employed  in  blacking  the  bends, 
somewhat  rusty  from  the  constant  wash  of  a  stormy 
sea;  and  we  had  embraced  the  opportunity  of  the 
gentle  land  breeze  to  replace  our  taunt  fair-weather 
poles,  and  to  bend  and  send  aloft  topgallant-sails, 
royals,  and  skysails,  for  which  there  had  not  before 
been  any  recent  occasion.  Thus  renewed,  and  all 
a-taunto,  with  our  glossy  sides  glistening  in  the  sun, 
our  flags  flying,  and  the  broad  blue  streaming  at 
the  main,  there  was  no  object  in  all  that  gay  and 
animated  bay  on  which  the  eye  could  rest  with 
greater  pleasure.  The  bustle  consequent  upon 
:oming  to  anchor  was,  among  our  active  and  dis 
ciplined  crew,  of  but  brief  duration.  In  a  very  few 
ninutcs,  every  yard  was  squared  with  the  nicest 
precision ;  every  rope  hauled  taught,  and  laid  down 
n  a  handsome  Flemish  coil  upon  the  deck ;  and  the 


A    NIGHT   AT   GIBRALTAR.  45 

vast  symmetrical  bulk,  with  nothing  to  indicate  its 
recent  bufferings  with  the  storm,  lay  floating  quietly 
on  the  bright  surface, 

u  As  idlo  QS  a  painted  ship  '» 

Upon  a  painted  ocean." 

I  had  been  on  duty  ever  since  the  previous  mid- 
night,  but  I  felt  no  disposition  to  go  below.  For 
more  than  an  hour  after  the  boatswain  piped  down, 
I  remained  on  deck,  gazing,  with  unsatcd  eyes,  on 
the  various  and  attractive  novelties  around  me.  A 
part  of  the  fascination  of  the  scene  was  doubtless 
owing  to  that  feeling  of  young  romance,  which  invests 
every  object  with  the  colours  of  the  imagination ;  and 
a  part,  to  its  contrast  with  the  dull  and  monotonous 
prospect  to  which  1  had  lately  been  confined,  till  my 
heart  fluttered,  like  a  caged  bird,  to  be  once  moro 
among  the  green  trees  and  rustling  grass — to  sco 
fields  covered  with  golden  grain,  and  swelling  away 
in  their  fine  undulations — to  scent  the  pleasant  odour 
of  the  meadows,  and  range  at  will  through  those 
leafy  forests,  which,  I  began  to  think,  were  ill  ex- 
changed  for  the  narrow  and  heaving  deck  of 'a  forty, 
four.  Thoughts  of  this  kind  mingled  with  my 
musings,  as  I  leaned  over  the  taffercl,  with  my  eyes 
bent  on  the  verdant  hills  and  slopes  of  Spain;  and 
so  absorbed  was  I  in  contemplation,  that  I  heard  not 
my  name  pronounced,  till  it  was  repeated  two  or 
three  times,  by  the  officer  of  the  deck. 

"Mr.  Transom!"  cried  he,  in  a  quick  and  irn- 


46  A   XIGHT  AT   GIBRALTAR. 

patient  voice,  "  are  you  deaf  or  asleep,  sir  ?  Here, 
jump  into  the  first  cutter  alongside !  Would  you  keep 
the  commodore  waiting  all -day?" 

I  felt  my  check  redden  at  this  speech  of  the  lieu 
tenant — one  of  those  popinjays  who,  dressed  in  a 
little  brief  authority,  think  to  show  their  own  conse 
quence  by  playing  off  impertinent  airs  upon  those  of 
inferior  station.  I  had  seen  enough  of  naval  ser 
vice,  however,  to  know  that  no  good  comes  of  re 
plying  to  the  insolence  of  a  superior ;  so,  suppressing 
the  answer  that  rose  to  my  lips,  I  hastened  down 
the  side  into  the  boat,  in  the  stern-sheets  of  which 
my  commander  was  already  seated. 
"  Shove  off,  sir,"  said  he. 

"Let  fall!  give  way!"  cried  I  to  the  men,  who 
sprang  to  their  oars  with  alacrity,  making  the  boat 
skim  through  the  water  lightly  and  fleetly  as  a  swal 
low  through  the  air.  In  five  minutes  wo  were 
floating  alongside  the  stone-  quay  at  tho  Water.Port 
— as  the  principal  and  strongly  fortified  entrance  to 
the  garrison  from  the  bay  is  called. 

"  You  will  wait  here  for  me,"  said  the  commodore, 
as  he  stepped  outof  the  boat.  "  Should  I  not  return 
before  the  gate,  is  closed,  pull  round  to  tho  Ragged- 
Stall","  (the  name  of  the  other  landing-place,)  "  and 
wait  there." 

"  Ay,  ay,  sir."  But  though  I  answered  promptly, 
and  with  a  tone  of  alacrity,  I  was  not,  in  truth, 
very  well  pleased  at  the  prospect  of  a  long  and 


A    NIGHT   AT    GIBRALTAR.  47 

tedious  piece  of  service,  fatigued  ns  I  already  was 
with  my  vigil  of  the  previous  night,  and  the  active 
duties  of  the  day.  Little  cared  the  old  commodore, 
however,  whether  I  was  pleased  or  ofiended.  With 
out  honouring  me  with  a  look,  he  turned  away  as 
lie  gave  the  order,  and  stepping  quickly  over  the 
drawbridge  which  connects  the  quay  with  the  for 
tress,  disappeared  under  the  massive  archway  of  the 
gate. 

For  a  while,  the  scene  at  the  Water-Port  afforded 
abundant  amusement.  The  quay,  beside  which  our 
boat  was  lying,  is  a  small  octangular  wharf,  construct 
ed  of  hugu  blocks  of  granite,  strongly  cemented 
together.  It  is  the  only  place  which  boats,  except 
those  belonging  to  the  garrison,  or  national  vessels 
in  the  harbour,  are  permitted  to  approach;  and  though 
but  a  few  yards  square  in  extent,  is  enfiladed  in 
several  directions  by  frowning  batteries  of  granite, 
mounted  with  guns,  of  which  a  single  discharge 
would  shiver  tho  whole  structure  to  atoms.  Mcr. 
chant  vessels  lying  in  the  bay  arc  unloaded  by 
means  of  lighters,  which,  with  the  boats  of  passage 
continually  plying  between  the  shipping  and  the 
shore,  and  the  market-boats  from  the  adjacent  coast 
of  Spain,  all  crowd  round  this  narrow  quay,  render, 
ing  it. a  place  of  singular  business  and  bustle.  As 
the  sunset  hour  approaches,  the  activity  and  con- 
fusion  increases.  Crowds  of  people,  of  all  nations, 
and  every  variety  of  costume  and  language,  jostle 

C3 


48  A   NIGHT  AT   GIBRALTAR. 

each  other  as  they  hurry  through  the  gate.  The 
stately  Greek,  in  his  embroidered  jacket,' rich  purple 
cap,  and  flowing  capote,  strides  carelessly  along. 
The  Jew,  with  bent  h  ,-ad,  shaven  crown,  and  coarse, 
though  not  unpicturesque  gaberdine,  glides  with  a 
noiseless  step  through  the  crowd,  turning  from  side 
to  side  quick  wary  glances  from  underneath  his 
downcast  brows.  The  Moor,  wrapped  close  in  his 
white  bernoosc,  stalks  sullenly  apart,  as  if  he  alone 
had  no  business  in  the  stirring  scene;  while  the 
noisy  Spaniard  at  his  side  wages  an  obstreperous 
argument,  or  shouts  in  loud  guttural  sounds  for  his 
boat.  French,  English,  and  Americans,  oflicers, 
merchants,  and  sailors,  arc  all  intermingled  in  the 
motley  mass,  each  engaged  in  his  own  business,  and 
each  adding  his  part  to  the  Babel-like  clamour  of 
tongues.  High  on  the  walls,  the  sentinels,  with 
their'  arms  glistening  in  the  sun,  walk  to  arid  fro  on 
their  posts,  and  look  down  with  indiQerence  or  ab 
straction  on  the  scene  of  hurry  and  turmoil  beneath 
them. 

Among  the  various  striking  figures  that  attracted 
my  attention,  as  I  reclined  in  the  stern-sheets  of  the 
cutter,  gazing  on  the  shifting  throng  before  me, 
there  was  one  the  appearance  arid  manners  of  whom 
awakened  peculiar  interest.  He  was  a  tall,  muscu 
lar,  dark-looking  Spaniard,  whoso  large  frarne^  and 
strong  and  well  proportioned  limbs  were  set  olf  to 
good  advantage  by  the  national  dress  of  the  pea- 


A   NIGHT  AT  GIBRALTAR.  49 

santry  of  his  country.     His  sombrero,  slouched  in 
a  studied  manner  over  his  eyes,  as  if  to  conceal  their 
fierce  rolling  balls,  shaded  a  face,  the  sun-burnt  hue 
of  which  showed  that  it  had  not  always  been  so 
carefully  protected.     From  the  crimson  sash  which 
was  bound  round  his  waist,  concealing  the  connex 
ion  of  his  embroidered  velvet  jacket  with  his  nether 
garments,  a  long  knife  depended ;  and  this,  together 
with  a  sinister  expression  of  countenance,  and  an  in- 
dcscribablc  something  in  the  general  air  and   bear 
ing  of  the  man,  created  an  impression  which  caused 
me  to  shrink  involuntarily  from  him  whenever  he  ap 
proached  the  boat.     He  himself  seemed  actuated  by 
similar  feelings.     On  first  meeting  my  eye,  he  drew 
his  sombrero  deeper  over  his  brow,  and  hastily  re 
tired  to  another  part  of  the  quay;  but  every  now 
and  then  I  could  seo  his  dark  face  above  a  group 
of  the  intervening  throng,  and  his  keen  black   eyes 
seemed  always  directed  towards  me,  till,  perceiving 
that  I  noticed  him,  he  would  turn  away,  and  mix 
again  among  the  remoter  portion  of  the  crowd. 

I  endeavoured  to  follow  this  singular  figure  in 
one  of  his  windings  through  the  multitude,  when  my 
attention  was  drawn  in  another  direction  by  a  loud, 
long  call  from  a  bugle,  sounded  within  the  walls, 
and,  in  an  instant  after,  repeated  with  a  clearer  and 
louder  blast  from  their  summit*  This  signal  gave 
new  motion  and  activity  to  the  crowd.  A  few  hur 
ried  from  the  quay  into  the  garrison,  but  a  greater 


50  A   NIGHT   AT   GIBRALTAR. 

number  poured  from  the  interior,  and  hastily  crossed 
the  drawbridge  to  the  quay,  and  all  appeared  anx 
ious  to  depart.  Boat  after  boat  was  drawn  up,  re- 
ceived  its  burden,  and  darted  ofF,  while  others  took 
their  places,  and  were  in  turn  soon  filled  by  the  retir 
ing  crowd.  Soldiers  from  the  garrison  came  out 
upon  the  quay  to  urge  the  tardy  into  qulckcr.motion ; 
mingled  shouts,  calls,  and  curses  resounded  on  every 
side  ;  and  for  a  few  minutes  confusion  seemed  worse 
confounded.  But  in  a  short  time  the  last  loiterer 
was  hurried  away — the  last  felucca  shoved  off,  and 
was  seen  gliding  on  it  course,  the  sound  of  its  oars 
almost  drowned  in  the  noisy  gabble  of  its  Andalusian 
crew.  As  soon  as  the  quay  became  entirely  de 
serted,  the  military  returned  within  the  walls,  and  a 
pause  of  silence  ensued — then  pealed  the  sunset  gun 
from  the  summit  of  the  rock — the  drawbridge,  by 
some  unseen  agency,  was  rolled  slowly  back,  till  it 
disappeared  within  the  arched  passage — the  ponde 
rous  gates  turned  on  their  enormous  hinges — and 
Gibraltar  was  closed  for  the  night  against  the  world. 

D  O 

Thus  shut  out  at  the  Water-Port,  I  directed  the 
boat's  crew,  in  compliance  with  my  orders,  to  pull 
round  to  the  Ragged-Staff.  The  wall  at  this 
place  is  of  great  height,  and  near  its  top  is  left  a 
small  gate,  at  an  elevation  of  fifty  or  sixty  feet  above 
the  quay,  which  projects  into  the  bay  beneath.  It  is 
attained  by  a  spiral  staircase,  erected  about  twenty 
feet  from  the  wall,  and  communicating  with  it  at  the 


A    NIGHT   AT   GIBRALTAR.  51 

top  by  means  of  a  drawbridge.     This  gate  is  little 
used,  except  for  the  egress  of  those  who  arc  per 
mitted  to  leave  the  garrison  after   nightfall.     On 
reaching  the  quay,  I  sprang  ashore,  and  walking  to 
a  favourable  position,  endeavoured  to  amuse  myself 
once  more  by  contemplating  from  this  new  point  of 
view  the  hills  and  distant  mountains  of  Spain.     But 
the  charm  was  now  fled.     Night  was  fast  stealing 
over  the  landscape,  and  rendering  its  features  misty 
and  indistinct :  a  change,  too,  had  taken  place  in  my 
own  feelings,  since,  a  few  hours  before,  I  had  found 
so  mucli  pleasure  in  dwelling  on  the  scene  around 
me.     I  was  now  cold,  fatigued,  and  hungry :   my 
eyes   had  been  fed  with  novelties  until  'they   were 
weary  with  gazing :  my  mind  had  been  crowded 
with  a  succession  of  new  images,  until  its  vigour  was 
exhausted.     I  cast  my  eyes  up  to  the  Rock,  but  it 
appeared  cold  and  desolate  in  the  deepening  twi 
light,  and  I  turned  from  its  steep,  flinty  sides,   and 
dreadful    precipices,  with  a  shudder.     The  waves 
and  ripples  of  the  bay,  which  the  increasing  evening 
wind  had  roughened,  broke  against  the  quay  where 
I  was  standing  with  a  sound  that  created  a  chilly 
sensation  at  my  heart.     Even  the  watch-dog's  bark, 
from  on  board  some  vessel  in  the  bay,  gave  me  no 
pleasure,  as  it  was  borne  faintly  to  my  car  by  the 
eastern  breeze ;  for  it  was  associated  with  sounds  of 
home,  and  awakened  me  to  a  painful  consciousness 
of  tho  distance  I  had  wandered,  and  the  fatigues  and 


52      '"  A    NIGHT   AT   GIBRALTAR. 

perils  to  which  I  was  exposed ;  and  a  train  of  somhro 
thoughts,  despite  my  efforts  to  drive  them  away,  took 
possession  of  my  mind. 

At  length,  yielding  to  their  influence,  I  climbed  to 
the  top  of  a  rude  heap  of  stones,  which  had  been 
piled  on  the  end  of  the  pier,  and  seating  myself  where 
my  eye  could  embrace  every  portion  of  the  shadowy 
landscape,  I  gave  free  rein  to  melancholy  fancies. 
My  wandering  thoughts  roamed  over  a  thousand 
subjects ;  but  one  subject  predominated  over  all.  My 
memory  recalled  many  images ;  but  one  image  it 
presented  with  the  vividness  of  life.,  and  dwelt  on 
with  the  partiality  of  love.  It  was  the  image  of  one 
who  had  been  the  object  of  my  childhood's  love, 
whom  I  had  loved  in  boyhood,  and  whom  now,  in 
opening  manhood,  I  still  loved  with  a  passionate 
and  daily  increasing  affection.  Linked  with  the 
memory  of  that  s\vcet  being,  came  thoughts  of  the 
rival  who  had  sought  to  win  her  heart  from  me, 
and  who,  foiled  in  his  purpose,  had  conceived  and 
avowed  the  bitterest  enmity  to  me : — and  from  him, 
my  thoughts  glided,  under  the  influence  of  some 
strange  association,  to  the  tall  and  singular-looking 
Spaniard  whom  I  had  seen  at  the  Water-Port.  In 
this  way  my  vagrant  meditations  ranged  from  topic 
to  topic,  with  all  that  wildncss  of  transition  which  is 
sometimes  produced  by  the  excitement  of  opium. 

"While    thus    engaged,  I  kno\v   not    how    long 
a  time   slipped   by ;    but   at   length   rny  thoughts 


A    NIGHT   AT   GIBRALTAR.  53 

began  to  grow  less  distinct,  and  my  eyes  to  feel 
heavy ;  and  had  I  not  been  restrained  by  a  sense  of 
shame  and  duty  as  an  officer,  I  should  have  been 
glad  to  resign  myself  to  sleep.  'My  eyelids,  in  des 
pite  of  me,  did  o  ;ce  or  twice  close  for -an  instant  or 
two ;  and  it  was  in  an  effort  to  arouse  myself  from 
one  of  these  little  attacks  of  somnolency,  that  I  v/os 
startled  by  seeing  an  object  before  me,  the  appear, 
ancc  of  whom  in  that  place  struck  me  with  surprise. 
The  moon  had  risen,  and  was  just  shedding  a  thin 
and  feeble  glimmer  over  the  top  of  the  Rock,  the 
broad  deep  shadow  of  which  extended  almost  to  the 
spot  where  I  was  sitting.  Emerging  from  this 
shadow,  I  saw  approaching  me  the  identical  Spa- 
niard  whoso  malign  expression  of  countenance  and 
general  appearance  had  so  strongly  attracted  my 
attention  at  the  Water-Port.  That  it  was  the  same 
I  could  not  doubt,  for  his  height,  his  dress,  his  air, 
all  corresponded  exactly.  He  had  the  same  long 
peculiar  step  ;  he  still  wore  the  same  large  sombrero, 
which,  as  before,  was  drawn  deep  over  his  brows; 
the  same  glistening  knife  was  thrust  through  his  sash ; 
and  the  same  fantastically  stamped  leather  gaiters 
covered  his  legs.  He  approached  close  to  me,  and 
in  a  voice,  which,  though  hardly  above  a  whisper,' 
thrilled  me  to  the  bone,  informed  me  that  the  com- 
modore  had  sent  for  me,  and  bade  me  follow  him. 
As  he  spoke  these  words  he  turned  away,  and  walked 

tf>U/n  Vita    tlir»    nrn.vvionrt  .QM-»r>11     r    f*n,-rt    -!*      rr/-.n  +  lr»      vnnt'l 


54  A   MGHT   AT    GIBRALTAR. 

er? — A  sensation  of  fear  crept  over  me  at  the  idea 
that  I  was  to  follow  this  herculean  and  sinister-look 
ing  Spaniard,  and  I  had  some  faint  misgivings  wheth 
er  I  ought  to  obey  his  summons.  But  I  reflected 
that  he  Avas  probably  a  servant  or  messenger  of 
some  officer  or  family  where  the  commodore  was 
visiting;  that  l:e  could  have  no  motive  to  mislead 
me  ;  and  that,  were  I  to  neglect  obeying  the  order 
through  apprehension  of  its  bearer,  because  he  was 
tall,  had  whiskers,  and  wore  a  sombrero,  I  should 
deservedly  bring  down  upon  myself  the  ridicule  of 
every  midshipman  in  the  Mediterranean.  Besides, 
thought  I,  how  foolish  should  I  feel,  if  it  should  turn 
out,  as  is  very  likely,  that  this  is  some  ball  or  party 
to  which  the  commodore  has  been  urged  to  stay, 
and,  unwilling  to  keep  me  waiting  for  him  so  long 
in  this  dreary  place,  he  has  sent  to  invite  me  to  join 
him.  This  last  reflection  turned  the  scale;  so  slip 
ping  down  from  my  perch,  I  followed  towards  the 
gate.  The  form  of  the  stranger  had  already  dis 
appeared  in  the  shadow  of  the  Rock  ;  but  on  reach 
ing  the  foot  of  the  spiral  staircase  which  led  up  to 
the  drawbridge,  I  could  hear  his  heavy  tread  as 
cending  the  steps.  Directly  after,  the  gate  was  un 
barred,  the  bridge  lowered,  and  a  footstep  crossing 
it  announced  that  the  Spaniard  was  within  the  walls. 
I  followed  as  rapidly  as  I  could,  and  got  within  the 
gate  just  in  time  to  see  the  form  of  rny  conductor 
disappear  round  one  of  the  angles  of  the  fortifica. 


A    NIGHT   AT   GIBRALTAR.  55 

tions ;  but  quickening  my  pace,  I  overtook  him  as  he 
reached  the  foot  of  a  path  winch  seemed  to  ascend 
towards  the  southern  end  of  the  Rock. 

"  This  way  lies  the  town,"  said  I,  pointing  in  the  op- 
positc  direction  ;  "  you  surely  have  mistaken  the 
route." 

The  Spaniard  made  no  answer,  but  pointed  with 
his  hand  up  the  narrow  and  difficult  path,  and  beck- 
oning  me  to  follow  him,  began  the  ascent.  The 
moon  shone  on  his  countenance  for  a  moment  as  ho 
turned  towards  me,  and  I  thought  I  could  perceive 
that  the  sinister  expression  which  had  been  one  of 
the  first  things  that  drew  my  attention  to  him,  was 
now  aggravated  into  a  smile  of  more  decided  malig 
nity.  I  continued  to  follow,  however,  and  struggled 
hard  to  overtake  him.  J3ut  the  path  was  steep  and 
very  rugged,  and  my  conductor  walked  with  great 
speed.  His  footing  seemed  sure  as  that  of  the 
mountain  goat.  I  became  wearied,  exhausted, 
almost  ready  to  drop  with  fatigue,  and  with  all  my 
efforts  was  unable  to  diminish  the  interval  between 
us.  The  ascent  continually  grew  more  difficult* 
and  it  soon  became  so  steep,  indeed,  that  1  could 
scarcely  clamber  up  it.  My  feet  were  bruised 
through  the  thin  soles  of  my  pumps,  and  in  toiling  on 
my  hands  and  knees  over  some  of  the  most  abrupt 
pitches,  the  jagged  points  of  the  rock  penetrated  my 
flesh.  After  thus  slowly  and  painfully  groping  my 
way  for  a  considerable  distance,  we  at  lenirth  reach- 


56  A  NIGHT  AT   GIBRALTAR. 

ed  a  place  where  the  path  pursued  a  level  course — 
but  what  a  path !  what  a  place !  A  narrow  ledge, 
scarce  two  feet  wide,  had  been  formed,  partly  by 
nature,  partly  by  art,  at  the  height  of  a  thousand 
feat  above  the  water,  around  a  sweep  of  the  rock 
where  it  rose  perpendicularly  from  its  base  to  its 
extreme  summit.  This  ledge  was  covered  with 
loose  stones,  which,  at  every  step,  fell  rattling  and 
thundering  down  the  mighty  precipice,  till  the  sound 
died  a\yay  in  the  immense  depths  below.  1  could 
not  conjecture  whither  the  Spaniard  was  leading 
me;  but  I  had  now  gone  too  far  to  think  of  retreat 
ing.  Every  step  was  now  at  the  hazard  of  life. 
The  ledge  was  so  narrow,  the  loose  stones  which 
covered  it  rolled  so  easily  from  under  my.  feet,  and 
my  knees  trembled  so  violently  from  fear  and  fatigue, 
that  I  could  scarcely  hope  to  continue  much  further 
in  safety  over  such  a  pathway.  At  last  we  reached 
a  broader  spot.  I  sunk  down  exhausted,  yet  with 
a  feeling  of  joy  that  I  had  escaped  from  the  perilous 
path  I  had  just  been  treading.  The  Spaniard  stood 
beside  me,  and  I  thought  a  smile  of  malign  satisfac 
tion  played  round  his  lips  as  he  looked  down  upon 
me,  panting  at  his  feet.  He  suffered  me  to  rest  but 
a  moment,  when  he  motioned  me  to  rise.  I  obeyed 
the  signal,  as  if  it  were  the  behest  of  my  evil  genius. 

"  Look  round  you,"  said  he,  "  and  tell  me  what 
you  behold  !" 

J  glanced  my  eyes  round,  and  shuddering,  with- 


A   NIGHT   AT   GIBRALTAR.  57 

drew  them  from  the  fearful  prospect.  The  ledge  or 
platform  on  which  we  were  standing  was  but  a  fcv/ 
feet  square ;  behind,  a  largo  and  gloomy  cavern 
opened  its  black  jaws ;  and  in  front,  the  rock  de* 
sccnded  to  the  sea  with  so  perpendicular  a  front,  that 
a  stone,  dropped  from  its  edge,  would  have  fallen 
without  interruption  straight  down  into  the  waves. 

"Arc  you  ready  to  make  the  leap  ?"  said  tho 
Spaniard,  in  a  smooth,  sneering  tone,  seeing,  and 
seeming  to  enjoy,  the  terror  of  my  countenance. 

" For  heaven's  sake/'  cried  I,  "who  are  you?  and 
why  am  I  made  your  victim?'' 

"Look1!"  cried  lie,  throwing  the  sombrero  from 
his  head,  and  approaching  close  to  me,  "look  !  know 
you  not  these  features?  They  are  those  of  him 
whose  path  you  have  crossed- once,  but  shall  never 
cross  again!" 

He  seized  hold  of  me  as  he  spoke,  with  a  fiendish 
grasp,  and  strove  to  hurl  me  headlong  from  the  rock. 
I  struggled  with  all  the  energy  of  desperation,  and 
for  a  moment  bailled  the  design.  lie  released  his 
hold  round  my  body,  and  stepping  back,  stood  an 
instant  gazing  on  me  with  the  glaring  ^eyeballs  of  a 
tiger  about  to  spring  upon  its  prey;  then  darting 
towards  me,  he  grappled  me  with  both  hands  round 
the  throat,  arid  dragged  me,  despite  my  struggling, 
to  the  very  verge  of  the  precipice.  With  a  power- 
ful  exertion  of  strength,  which  I  was  no  longer 
ablo  to  resist,  he  dashed  my  body  over  the  edge, 

D 


OS  A   NIGHT   AT   GIBRALTAR.  . 

ftncl  held  me  out  at  arm's  length  above  the  dread 
abyss.  The  agony  of  years  of  wretchedness  com. 
pressed  into  a  single  second,  could  not  exceed  the 
horror  of  the  moment  I  remained  so  suspended. 
There  was  a  small  tree  or  bush  which  grew  out  of 
a  cleft  just  beneath  the  ledge.  In  my  despairing, 
frantic  struggle,  I  caught  hold  of  a  branch  of  it,  just 
nt  the  critical  instant  when  the  Spaniard  relaxed 
liis  grasp,  intending  to  drop  me  down  the  fearful 
gulf.  His  purpose  was  again  baillcd  for  another 
moment  of  horror.  He  gnashed  his  teeth  as  he 
fiaw  me  swing  off  upon  the  fragile  branch,  which 
cracked  and  bent  beneath  my  weight,  and,  at  most, 
could  save  me  from  his  fury  but  for  a  fleeting  mo 
ment.  That  moment  seemed  too  long  for  his 
impatient  hate.  He  sprang  to  the  very  verge 
of  the  ledge,  and  placing  his  foot  firmly  on  the  tree, 
pressed  it  down  with  all  his  strength.  In  vain,  with 
chattering  teeth  and  horror-choked  voice,  I  implored 
him  to  desist.  He  answered  not,  but  stamped 
furiously  on  the  tree.  The  root  began  to  give  way 
- — the  loosened  dirt  fell  from  around  it — the  trunk 
snapped,  cracked,  and  separated — and  the  fiend  set 
up  an  inhuman  laugh,  which  rung  in  my  cars  like 
the  mocking  of  a  demon,  as  down — down — down  I 
O,  through  the  chill,  thick,  pitchy  air,  till  striking 

with   a   mighty  force  on  the   roeks  beneath 1 

>vakcd,  and  lo,  it  was  a  dream! 

It  was  broad  daylight.  In  my  sleep  I  had  rolled  from 


A    NIGHT   AT    GIBRALTAR.  59 

the  heap  of  stones  which  had  furnished  me  with  my 
evening  seat  of  meditation,  and  which,  during  my  sleep, 
had  supplied  my  imagination  with  abundant  materials 
for  yawnhg  gulfs  and  chasms.  The  laugh  of  the 
infernal  Spaniard  turned  out  to  be  only  a  burst  of  in- 
nocent  merriment  at  my  plight  from  little  Paul  Mes 
senger,  a  rosy,  curly-haired  midshipman,  and  ono 
of  the  finest  little  fellows  in  the  world.  The  matter 
was  soon  explained.  The  commodore,  returning  to 
the  boat,  and  seeing  me  sleeping  on  a  bed  of  my  own 
choosing,  as  he  expressed  it,  had  chosen  to  punish 
me  by  leaving  me  to  my  slumbers.  So  shoving  oft', 
without  waking  me,  he  had  returned  to  the  ship ;  on 
reaching  which,  however,  he  gave  the  ofliccr  of  the 
deck  directions  to  send  a  boat  for  me  at  daylight. 
Little  Paul,  always  ready  to  do  a  kind  act,  asked  to 
go  officer  of  her  ;  and  we  pulled  back  to  the  frigate, 
laughing  over  my  story  of  the  imaginary  adventures 
of  the  night. 


MERRY    TERRY. 


MERRY  TERRY, 


His  breast  with  wounds  unnumbered  riven, 
His  back  to  earth,  his  face  to  heaven, 
Fallen  Hassan  lies—his  unclosed  eyo 
Yet  lowering  on  hit)  enemy, 
Asiflho  hour  that  seaU-cl  hiufato, 
Surviving  left  Ms  quenchless  hnte: 
And  o'er  him  hcnila  his  foe,  with  brow 
As  dark  as  his  that  bled  below. 


ME,  spin  us  a  yarn,  Jack,  my  boy,"  said  a 
curly-headed,  rosy-cheeked  young  midshipman,  to  old 
Jack  Palmer,  one  evening,  as  the  vessel  to  which  they 
were  attached  was  running  down  the  Spanish  Main, 
before  as  sweet  a  breeze  as  ever  filled  a  topgallant- 
sail.  Jack  Palmer  was  an  old  sea-dog,  and  a 
clever  fellow,  —  that  is  to  say,  in  the  Yankee  sense 
of  the  word.  He  had  seen  all  sorts  of  service,  and 
knew  all  sorts  of  stories,  which  were  perhaps  not 
the  less  amusing  for  the  nautical  phraseology  in 
which,  they  were  expressed.  lie  w-is  master's  mate 
of  the  gun-deck  ;  hut  when  called  upon  for  a  story 
by  Rosy  Willy,  (tire  name  of  the  little  reefer  that 
had  asked  Jack  fora  yarn,)  his  business  for  the  day 

n  i 


